NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Science newsNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Thu, 17 Aug 2017 14:44:01 +0000http://wbaa.org
Lars GotrichIts name alone suggests an explosive whizzbang of cotton candy pop — Pinkshinyultrablast makes shoegaze that yanks tufts of sound every which way in some kind of cinematically sped-up slow-mo. It's irrepressibly cool music — last year's Grandfeathered was a personal favorite , a sonic treasure hunt on every listen. Despite vocalist Lyubov's recent move to L.A. and the group's slimming down to a trio — Rustam on synths and electronics, and Roman on guitars — the band, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, is already putting the finishing touches on its as-yet-untitled third album in as many years. On previous efforts, Pinkshinyultrablast indulged in the joyously erratic, inserting a wild metal riff here or a boisterously jagged funk bass there. This new single, "Find Your Saint," sees the band not necessarily pull back, but smooth out its ecstatic sound like the quilted corners of a bed, as if to play the song right next to you. The result is something like Cocteau Twins swooning toHear Pinkshinyultrablast's Swoon-Worthy 'Find Your Saint'http://wbaa.org/post/hear-pinkshinyultrablasts-swoon-worthy-find-your-saint
151296 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 14:30:00 +0000Hear Pinkshinyultrablast's Swoon-Worthy 'Find Your Saint'Elissa Nadworny When Anna Neuman was applying to college, there weren't a lot of people around to help her. Students from her high school in Maryland rarely went on to competitive colleges, the school counselor worked at several different schools and was hard to pin down for meetings and neither of her parents had been through the application process before. The only thing her parents told her was, she'd have to pay for it herself. "It was really stressful," Neuman recalls. "I was like: What is going on? None of my friends knew anything – their parents didn't go. It was just us Googling stuff." Neuman's experience isn't isolated: Nearly one in four high-achieving, low-income students apply to college completely on their own, according to a new report by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (which is a financial supporter of NPR). The lack of support didn't hold Neuman back – she applied early to MIT — where this fall she'll start her senior year. But low-income, high-achieving students like Neuman make upHigh-Achieving, Low-Income Students: Where Elite Colleges Are Falling Shorthttp://wbaa.org/post/high-achieving-low-income-students-where-elite-colleges-are-falling-short
151294 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 14:24:00 +0000High-Achieving, Low-Income Students: Where Elite Colleges Are Falling ShortLeah DonnellaJared Taylor was not in Charlottesville on Saturday. But Taylor, one of the leading voices for white rights in the country, says it was clear what really happened at that rally. "Anyone who wishes to speak in the name of whites is subject to the heckler's veto," said Taylor, who is the founder of the white advocacy website American Renaissance . "There would have been no violence, no problems of any kind if people had not shown up as counter-demonstrators, many of them wearing helmets, wielding batons, wearing shields, shouting for the death of the demonstrators. ... This is not something that was provoked by the presence of racially conscious whites. It was something that was provoked by people who hate any white person who has a racial consciousness." Two days later, President Trump, in one of his most controversial press conferences to date, described the events — at which hundreds of white protesters gathered for the so-called "Unite the Right" rally and a white sympathizer droveThe Trickle-Up Theory Of White Nationalist Thoughthttp://wbaa.org/post/trickle-theory-white-nationalist-thought
151295 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 14:02:00 +0000The Trickle-Up Theory Of White Nationalist ThoughteditorAmerica is doing some heavy soul-searching after the violence in Charlottesville and President Trumps responses to it. America has survived far worse , but today millions of Americans are saying, This is not who we are. Are we sure about that? GUESTS Linda Gordon , Professor of History, NYU; author, The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition; @lgordon Lonnie King Jr. , Civil Rights activist Brett Flehinger , History Lecturer, Harvard For more, visit . 2017 WAMU 88.5 American University Radio. Copyright 2017 WAMU 88.5. To see more, visit WAMU 88.5 .The Search For America's Moral Corehttp://wbaa.org/post/search-americas-moral-core
151297 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 14:00:00 +0000The Search For America's Moral CoreMarisa Arbona-Ruizhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnJ6LuUFpMo For the second time in one summer, a Spanish-language pop song is skyrocketing to worldwide popularity in jaw-dropping numbers. "Mi Gente" ("My People") by Colombian-born J Balvin and featuring French artist Willy William , has fans once again ignoring language barriers and going for the grooves. While the remixed "Despacito" features Spanglish, "Mi Gente" is in full-on Español , which is making the music industry pay even closer attention. So, what's going on here? First of all, let's examine the music. Both songs are fueled by reggaeton, a genre birthed in Puerto Rico and Panama. Along with bachata, from the Dominican Republic, they have been the dominant sounds of Spanish-language radio across the country for some time. And while early reggaeton was frowned upon for its angry, lurid and misogynistic tones, its "softer" second generation has become a pan-Latin worldwide favorite. Then there's J Balvin. After just four albums, Balvin hasJ Balvin Talks 'Mi Gente' And Spanish-Language Pop's Summer Of Mega Successhttp://wbaa.org/post/j-balvin-talks-mi-gente-and-spanish-language-pops-summer-mega-success
151298 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 13:58:00 +0000J Balvin Talks 'Mi Gente' And Spanish-Language Pop's Summer Of Mega SuccessMerrit KennedyIt's a common refrain from whiskey enthusiasts: Add a few drops of water to a glass to open up the flavors of the drink. For example, hard-liquor expert Alice Lascelles said in a demonstration for the Sunday Times that "if you're tasting with a master blender, they will always add some water at some stage." But the science behind this claim has been murky. A couple of chemists in Sweden set out to figure out why adding a little water would improve the drink's taste. They say the taste improvement happens because alcohol molecules and those that determine whiskey's taste tend to stick together. Their findings were published today in Scientific Reports . First, the scientists developed computer model simulations that strip whiskey down to its most basic elements: water and ethanol, or alcohol. They then simulated how the molecules interacted at different concentrations with guaiacol, a molecule common in single-malt Scotch whiskies that gives them a smoky taste. Water and alcohol don'tChemists Say You Should Add A Little Water To Your Whiskey. Here's Whyhttp://wbaa.org/post/chemists-say-you-should-add-little-water-your-whiskey-heres-why
151290 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 13:19:00 +0000Chemists Say You Should Add A Little Water To Your Whiskey. Here's WhyKorva ColemanGood morning, here are our early stories: -- Phoenix Mayor Asks Trump To Delay Visit, Hoping For 'More Sound Judgment.' -- Joint Chiefs Denounce Racism After Trump's Comments. -- Driver Faces 5 Charges - And Potential Death Penalty - Over Immigrants' Deaths. -- Spain Rescues Nearly 600 People At Sea As Migration Patterns Change. And here are more early headlines: Thousands Attend Unannounced Vigil In Charlottesville. ( Daily Progress ) U.S. Service Member Killed In Afghan Battle With Militants. ( NATO ) Search Continues For Missing U.S. Copter Off Hawaii. ( Star-Advertiser ) Oregon Approves Expanding Abortion Access. ( Washington Post ) Hundreds Killed In Asian Monsoon Storms And Flooding. ( Guardian ) Woman's Lost Ring Found Wrapped Around Garden Carrot. ( CBC ) Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Top Stories: Mayor Doesn't Want Trump Visit; U.S. Military Denounces Racismhttp://wbaa.org/post/top-stories-mayor-doesnt-want-trump-visit-us-military-denounces-racism
151291 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 13:09:00 +0000Top Stories: Mayor Doesn't Want Trump Visit; U.S. Military Denounces RacismLinda HolmesJudith Light: The Content And The Context Of A Varied Careerhttp://wbaa.org/post/judith-light-content-and-context-varied-career
151292 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 13:01:00 +0000Judith Light: The Content And The Context Of A Varied CareerMarissa LorussoThose of us who fell in love with her debut album, Sprained Ankle , have been hungering for more of Julien Baker' s sparse, confessional songs — brutally honest and cripplingly insecure, self-deprecating but laced with just enough hope to keep you hanging on — since the album's 2015 release (only briefly sated by the release of "Funeral Pyre," a one-off single, in January). Now, Baker is back with "Appointments," the moving first single from her upcoming sophomore album, Turn Out The Lights . It gently treads over well-worn ground for Baker: hopefulness and hopelessness, mental health, emotional estrangement. The song is suspiciously optimistic, in Baker's way: "Maybe it's all going to turn out alright / And I know that it's not / But I have to believe that it is," she cries out over piano and twinkly guitars in the song's climax. Buddhists often warn about the danger of the two arrows: The first arrow in our side comes from an external source of pain; the second arrow is the one weSongs We Love: Julien Baker, 'Appointments'http://wbaa.org/post/songs-we-love-julien-baker-appointments
151293 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 12:50:00 +0000Songs We Love: Julien Baker, 'Appointments'Bill ChappellShortly after President Trump posted a link for tickets to a rally in Phoenix, the city's mayor issued a statement asking the president not to come, saying, "our nation is still healing from the tragic events in Charlottesville." Mayor Greg Stanton continued , "If President Trump is coming to Phoenix to announce a pardon for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, then it will be clear that his true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide our nation." Stanton, a Democrat, is in his second term as Phoenix's mayor, having won re-election last November. Trump's announcement of an Aug. 22 rally at the Phoenix Convention Center didn't mention Arpaio, but it immediately renewed speculation that he might use the event to pardon the controversial former sheriff who became famous for his tough stance on illegal immigration. Trump's responses to the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., have been widely criticized. After a deadly attack led to a murder charge and promptedPhoenix Mayor Asks Trump To Delay Visit, Hoping For 'More Sound Judgment'http://wbaa.org/post/phoenix-mayor-asks-trump-delay-visit-hoping-more-sound-judgment
151286 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 12:28:00 +0000Phoenix Mayor Asks Trump To Delay Visit, Hoping For 'More Sound Judgment'Christianna SilvaDuring the full moon in my small border town in Arizona, my mom and I would pack into her car, drive up towards the mountains, and hike to a boulder she called Full Moon Rock. We'd set out jars and create moon water, drink wine, eat snacks and watch the moon cast an evening shadow over our quiet two-person picnic. My mom and I were following centuries of tradition by devoting time and energy towards capturing the powers of the full moon. This week, I'll be practicing rituals focused on the solar eclipse, along with astrologer Sarolta DeFaltay and author Jaya Saxena. Eclipse water My mom says there a chance an eclipse can grant powers, wisdom, and positive energy. The purpose of eclipse water is to bottle up all that energy and be able to use it for months after the event has passed. What you'll need: A clear container with a lid. I typically use a mason jar. Water. I use tap, but feel free to use filtered water if you prefer. What you'll do: Fill up your clear container with water andRituals To Sprinkle A Little Magic Into Your Eclipse Experiencehttp://wbaa.org/post/rituals-sprinkle-little-magic-your-eclipse-experience
151287 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 12:08:00 +0000Rituals To Sprinkle A Little Magic Into Your Eclipse ExperienceeditorCopyright 2017 NCPR. To see more, visit NCPR .Some Left-Wing Protesters Were Ready To Trade Blows In Charlottesvillehttp://wbaa.org/post/some-left-wing-protesters-were-ready-trade-blows-charlottesville
151288 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 11:57:00 +0000Some Left-Wing Protesters Were Ready To Trade Blows In CharlottesvilleeditorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Steve Bannon Called 'American Prospect' To Talk About Politicshttp://wbaa.org/post/steve-bannon-called-american-prospect-talk-about-politics
151289 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 11:57:00 +0000Steve Bannon Called 'American Prospect' To Talk About PoliticseditorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Where Will You Be Watching The Eclipse?http://wbaa.org/post/where-will-you-be-watching-eclipse
151284 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 11:19:00 +0000Where Will You Be Watching The Eclipse?editorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Nokia Claims The Next Evolution Of The Selfie: Meet The Bothiehttp://wbaa.org/post/nokia-claims-next-evolution-selfie-meet-bothie
151285 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 11:19:00 +0000Nokia Claims The Next Evolution Of The Selfie: Meet The BothieJason HellerJason Heller is a Hugo Award-winning editor and author of the forthcoming book Strange Stars (Melville House). Twitter: @jason_m_heller Sex has become so much a part of the fabric of popular music, it's easy to overlook it or take it for granted. Ann Powers, NPR Music critic and correspondent, rectifies that with her new book, Good Booty . In it, she paints a portrait of America's obsession with sex as it manifests itself in music — and how that obsession has much to tell us about our collective desires, fears, inhibitions and beliefs. Rock 'n' roll might be the most obvious genre for Good Booty to tackle — the term itself was originally a euphemism for sex — but the book strikes out much further. Powers explores the Creole sounds of New Orleans in the early 1900s, the free-love rock of the '60s, the horny punk of the '70s, the pop fantasies of the '80s, and the competing urges of hip-hop and grunge in the '90s. She goes all the way up to the 21st century's "cyborgs," as she callsIn 'Good Booty,' Our Hot And Heavy Love Affair With Pop Musichttp://wbaa.org/post/good-booty-our-hot-and-heavy-love-affair-pop-music
151283 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 11:00:00 +0000In 'Good Booty,' Our Hot And Heavy Love Affair With Pop MusicRyan Kellmanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATz09bOeNP0 Hundreds of years before solar viewing glasses were readily available, scientists and casual spectators could still enjoy these rare celestial events without frying their eyeballs. They'd use a combination of pinholes and mirrors to redirect the sun's rays onto a screen. It took a while to figure out how to build the so-called camera obscura. Ancient Chinese and Greek scholars puzzled over pinholes for centuries before an Arab mathematician and scientist came up with a design. You can rig up your own version with simple household items. It's easy. Skunk Bear's latest video shows you how. And remember, never look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection . ____ Eclipses are beautiful, and they're also really important to scientists. Skunk Bear's latest video explores the many discoveries sparked by solar eclipses. Check it out over on Skunk Bear's YouTube channel . Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Make Your Own Eclipse Viewerhttp://wbaa.org/post/make-your-own-eclipse-viewer
151279 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 10:23:00 +0000Make Your Own Eclipse ViewereditorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.High School Reunion: Checking In With A Student Who Felt Like An Outsiderhttp://wbaa.org/post/high-school-reunion-checking-student-who-felt-outsider
151270 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 09:18:00 +0000High School Reunion: Checking In With A Student Who Felt Like An OutsidereditorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.News Brief: Bannon's Magazine Interview, 'Daily Stormer' Moves To Dark Webhttp://wbaa.org/post/morning-news-brief-bannons-magazine-interview-daily-stormer-moves-dark-web
151271 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 09:18:00 +0000News Brief: Bannon's Magazine Interview, 'Daily Stormer' Moves To Dark WebeditorCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.GOP Response To Trump's Charlottesville Commentshttp://wbaa.org/post/gop-response-trumps-charlottesville-comments
151272 as http://wbaa.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 09:18:00 +0000GOP Response To Trump's Charlottesville Comments